Lynn E. Rzonca

Lynn E. Rzonca is Chair of Ballard Spahr's Intellectual Property Department and a member of the firm's Expanded Board. She has 25 years of experience litigating trademark, advertising, copyright, and patent cases. She counsels clients on how to best protect and increase the value of their intellectual property and protect their key brands. On any given day, she may be enforcing trademark rights in federal court or before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, addressing infringement on social media, registering marks, or responding to a threat of patent infringement.

Lynn is a compelling presence in the courtroom, and she has litigated in dozens of courts across the country. She has significant experience enforcing brands by helping clients assert their trademark rights, whether through policing programs or in court. She has prosecuted many trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and handled cases before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Lynn frequently assists clients with the launch of new brands and advertising campaigns.

For the past five years, Lynn co-chaired Ballard Women, a group of diverse Ballard Spahr attorneys whose aim is to help women attorneys build professional networks, create business opportunities, and grow as legal counselors and business and civic leaders. She also serves on the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Judicial Clerkships

Hon. Anthony J. Scirica, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Recognition & Accomplishments

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession named Lynn recipient of the 2010 Lynette Norton Award, in recognition of her litigation skills and mentoring and encouragement of female lawyers.

In 2009, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell named Lynn one of Pennsylvania's "Best 50 Women in Business." The award, in its 14th year, is given jointly by the Business Journals of Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development. Philadelphia magazine also recognized Lynn for her mentoring work in its "Best of Philly" 2009 edition.

In December 2009, the Philadelphia Business Journal and the National Association of Women Business Owners named Lynn a Woman of Distinction, an award given to women who are leaders in their professions and communities.

Since 2009, Lynn has been Co-chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession Mentoring Task Force, which coordinates the commission's "LINK" mentoring program matching young female bar members with experienced female lawyers.

Other honors include:

Chambers USA, intellectual property law, (Pennsylvania), 2006-2020

The Best Lawyers in America, intellectual property litigation, copyright law, patent law, trademark law, and patent litigation, 2008-2021; "Lawyer of the Year," Copyright Law (Philadelphia) and Litigation - Patent (Philadelphia), 2020

Chambers USA Women in Law Awards 2014, Finalist, Gender Diversity/Private Practice Lawyer of the Year

IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, patent litigation, 2016 

World Trademark Review 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, 2018-2020

Martindale-Hubbell – Rated AV Preeminent, 2005-present

Board Memberships

Juvenile Law Center, Board of Directors (2006-2012)

Pennsylvania SPCA, Board of Directors (2007-2011)

Children's Justice Clinic at Rutgers School of Law, Advisory Board

Publications

Co-author, "USPTO Pilots Program to Challenge Doctored Specimens," Ballard Spahr alert, March 15, 2018

Co-author, "Protecting Prestige: EU Decision Safeguards Sale of Luxury Brands From Online Marketplaces," Ballard Spahr alert, December 13, 2017

Co-author, "There's No Place Like Home: SCOTUS Rules on Patent Venue Issue," Ballard Spahr alert, May 22, 2017

Co-author, "Manufacturers: Avoid this Issue—Register Your Trademarks!," Ballard Spahr alert, April 27, 2017

Co-author, "U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Designs Are Copyrightable Under 17 U.S.C. § 101," Ballard Spahr alert, March 22, 2017

Co-author,"The Sum of the Parts ≠ the Whole? SCOTUS on Samsung v Apple," Ballard Spahr alert, December 6, 2016

Co-author, "Want to Keep Your DMCA Safe Harbor? New Copyright Rules Require Reregistering," Ballard Spahr alert, November 18, 2016

Co-author, "Federal Circuit Limits On-Sale Bar’s Reach," Ballard Spahr alert, July 13, 2016

Co-author, "The Defend Trade Secrets Act Signed into Law," Ballard Spahr alert, May 11, 2016

Co-author, "President Obama Signs Defend Trade Secrets Act into Law," Ballard Spahr alert, May 11, 2016

Co-author, "Give Me an S-C-O-T-U-S! Supreme Court to Decide Apparel Copyright Case," Ballard Spahr alert, May 2, 2016

Co-author, "FTC Enforcement Action Highlights Advertising Risks for Retailers," Ballard Spahr alert, March 18, 2016

Co-author, "Internet of Things: Federal Agencies Offer Privacy and Data Security Best Practices," Ballard Spahr alert, January 29, 2015

Speaking Engagements

Panelist, "The Creative Entrepreneur presents Designing Your Success: Securing Copyrights + Creating Your Business," The Arts + Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, May 31, 2017 

Panelist, "Rock 'n Roll, Redskins & Free Speech: Trademark/Copyright Goes to the Supreme Court," The American Law Journal TV program, February 20, 2017

Moderator, "Brand Innovator of the Year – Scott Emmons, Head of Neiman Marcus Innovation Lab," FashInvest Fashion Tech Investment Conference, December 15, 2016 

Panelist, "Using Intellectual Property Rights to Protect and Spur Smart Fabrics Innovation," The Smart Fabrics Summit, Washington, D.C., April 11, 2016

"Brand Stewardship: Keys to Creating and Maintaining Customer Awareness and Loyalty in Every Industry," DELVACCA In-House Counsel Conference, Philadelphia, April 3, 2014

Panel moderator, "Technology and Compliance: How To Make It Work," Argyle Executive Forum, 2013 Leadership in Legal Technology, New York, July 18, 2013

Rutgers School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, 2012 

Panelist, "The Dynamic of the Counsel and Partner Relationship," ABA Young Lawyers Division, New Partner and In-House Counsel Conference, Philadelphia, February 26, 2011

Guest Lecturer, "Trademarks," Law in the Arts, Drexel University Graduate School, Winter 2011 

"To Friend, Blog, Tweet, or Tube: Social Media and Intellectual Property," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, November 5, 2009

"Communicating as an Effective Leader," 2008 Fall Retreat & Leadership Forum, PBA Commission on Women in the Profession, Hershey, Pennsylvania, November 2008

"Managing Partner Panel—How Can Women Succeed in Law Firm Culture?" Women in the Legal Profession Summit: Rainmaking, Negotiating and Collaborative Development, BVR Legal/Mealey's Conferences, Philadelphia, September 2008

"IP and the Internet: The Story of GROW AND GO, the Fictional Drink of the Summer Games," Ballard Spahr CLE Program, Philadelphia, June 2008

"Is That a Trademark I Smell? The New Boundaries of Non-Traditional Trademarks," 12th Annual Business Lawyers Institute, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, October 2006

"We've Been Sued—Now What? Calculating and Proving Patent Damages," Law Seminars International, Philadelphia, October 2006

Guest Lecturer, Trial Advocacy, Villanova University Law School, Villanova, Pennsylvania, October 2005

"Maximizing Value in M&A Transactions with an Emphasis on Intellectual Property," Joint National Conference, American Society of Women Accountants and American Woman's Society of CPAs, Philadelphia, September 2005

"Assisting in Trademark Infringement Cases," Intellectual Property Litigation for Paralegals, Atlantic City, June 2005

Northwestern University School of Law (J.D. 1991)
Member, International Journal of Law and Business; Member, National Moot Court Team; Teaching Assistant

Loyola University Chicago (M.A. 1986)

Loyola University Chicago (B.S., biology, 1984, with honors)

Illinois

Pennsylvania

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office